New Cancer Drug Shows Promising Results in Lung Cancer Survival Study
An experimental drug developed by China-based Akeso has shown encouraging results in a late-stage clinical trial involving patients with advanced lung cancer.
The treatment, known as ivonescimab, was tested in patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), one of the most common and aggressive forms of lung cancer.
Study Shows Improved Survival Outcomes
According to results presented at a medical conference in Chicago, patients receiving ivonescimab along with chemotherapy lived an average of 27.9 months, compared to 23.7 months for those treated with a standard immunotherapy combination.
Researchers reported that the drug reduced the risk of death by more than 30% and improved overall survival outcomes by approximately 15%.
The clinical trial included 532 patients in China, all of whom had stage 3 or stage 4 squamous NSCLC and were receiving first-line treatment.
How the Drug Works
Ivonescimab is part of a newer class of treatments known as bispecific antibodies. These therapies are designed to target multiple cancer pathways at the same time.
The drug works by blocking PD-1, a mechanism that helps cancer cells avoid detection by the immune system, as well as VEGF, a protein that supports tumor growth and blood supply.
Researchers believe this dual-action approach may offer advantages over some existing immunotherapies.
Side Effects and Safety Findings
While the results are promising, the study also reported higher rates of serious side effects in patients receiving ivonescimab compared to those in the control group. However, the rate of treatment discontinuation remained similar between both groups.
Experts noted that additional research is needed to fully understand the safety profile of the drug across different populations.
Ongoing Global Research
Further international clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the drug’s effectiveness in diverse patient groups outside China.
A global Phase III study comparing ivonescimab with existing standard treatments is also in progress, with early results expected later this year.
Researchers say the findings highlight the growing development of targeted cancer therapies aimed at improving survival and treatment outcomes for patients with advanced cancers.
